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The UK P &I Club advises that the Argentine Customs authorities have issued a new resolution affecting the way in which the weight or volume of imported and exported bulk cargo is calculated. Prior to this new resolution, according to Customs Regulation No. 2914/94, the importers/exporters had the benefit of deciding which method was to be employed to establish the weight or volume of dry cargoes in bulk.

This method gave rise to a number of disputes in which discrepancies between ship and shore figures were ascertained upon completion of loading of dry or liquid bulk cargoes. The shipper's argument was that shore scales were more accurate than the draft survey method and that this weighing method was supervised by Customs officers.

Further problems arose during the off-loading of fertilizers in bulk, where the weight had been determined by shore scales, which are not always close to the vessel and are beyond control of the sea carrier.

With the new resolution, the method to determine the weight or volume of bulk cargoes will be decided by the Customs authorities.

Although the UK P&I Club believes that this new resolution has been adopted, more than anything else, in order to control grain exporters. the Club is of the view that it could also reduce the present difficulties which shipowners are facing when Customs carry out their controls on board ships.

In relation to this, the UK P&I Club's recommendations are as follows:

For loading dry or liquid cargoes in bulk:
If the Customs authorities decide to check weights through the draft survey method (for dry cargoes) or measurement of ship's tanks (for liquid cargoes), the Master should ensure that a proper document stating the quantities as per the survey carried out by the Customs officers on board, is jointly signed by the Customs officer and the ship and that a proper copy is kept onboard.
In principle, it is thought that this should help in case of disputes between shore and ship's figures.

For off-loading of fertilizers:
It has previously been suggested that draft surveys, if possible, should be carried out jointly with the Customs authorities at load ports and that these should be properly recorded in the ship's documents, whereupon the cargo hatches should be sealed.

With this new resolution, it is suggested that before arrival, both Customs and shippers should be invited to attend the breaking of hatch seals upon arrival, where applicable, and a joint draft survey, for the weights to be established as per ship's figures instead of shore ones, should be carried out.

Find more information here

http://www.ukpandi.com/knowledge/article/philippine-shipping-update-issue-2013-10-6138/